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Texas residents near the United States-Mexico border say that "Eagle Pass has nothing to gain" from Donald Trump's impending visit on Thursday, referring to the Republican Party presidential frontrunner as a "traitor."
The former president is planning to show up at the immigration debate epicenter on the same day that President Joe Biden will visit Brownsville to meet with U.S. Border Patrol agents, law enforcement and local officials.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and sympathetic conservative governors nationwide have used Eagle Pass as a symbol to show record-high numbers of migrant surges, which dwindled in January to 68,260 illegal crossings—dropping from 149,806 migrants in December, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics. Abbott has claimed credit due to the placement of concertina wire, floating barriers in the Rio Grande, and employing large numbers of soldiers to combat illegal flows.
In mid-February, Abbott announced from Eagle Pass that an 80-acre construction had begun to develop an expansive military base camp for some 1,800 Texas National Guard soldiers, extending along the Rio Grande and six miles south to Shelby Park. The governor said it would allow soldiers to "operate more effectively and more efficiently" in detracting illegal immigrants.
"[The visit] has nothing to offer Eagle Pass, and Eagle Pass has nothing to gain from it," the Eagle Pass Border Coalition, a group with 476 followers on Facebook at the time of writing, said in a post on Monday evening. "Not welcome here and you know it. Not a leader but a loser. Not a president, but a contender. Not a rebel but a threat. Not a friend but an enemy. Not a patriot but a traitor.
"Eagle Pass deserves better. Maverick County deserves better. Texas deserves better. America deserves better. We deserve better."
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign via email for comment.
A spokesperson for the coalition told Newsweek via phone on Tuesday evening that Trump's visit is a political stunt, and that immigration is part of a much broader concern that does not include just the U.S.
"The issue is climate change, and one country cannot affect climate change," the spokesperson said. "We need to address that as a planet. This is the first trickle of what is going to be the largest scale of humanity our planet has ever seen—and we can't fix that problem with World War II-era laws."
When asked if Biden should exercise executive authority to deter migrants following Republicans' failure to pass any border-related legislation earlier this month, she said she is not an immigration expert "but somebody needs to do something."
The House of Representatives "has done less than anyone else," she added.
"I think our House of Representatives should go to work and not take a break and pass some laws," she said. "They're not doing anything. I think the Senate has a responsibility to send some bills to act on. I think our president has the responsibility within his power to make sure our nation is strong."
Locals and coalition members are calling Trump's anticipated visit "a brazen attempt to distract attention from his upcoming criminal and civil trials," citing his legal entanglements and using immigration as a key issue to attract supporters ahead of the November election.
They also took a verbal jab at Abbott, who they claim recently stayed "for less than an hour" before departing via helicopter following a podium speech.
On February 7, in the midst of heightened tensions between Abbott and the Biden administration, including legal battles that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, the coalition criticized the governor in a letter—referring to his efforts to turn Eagle Pass into a "military-style staging ground...as a backdrop for political theater."
The group questions whether Trump will mimic Abbott's actions by making a pulpit speech and swiftly leaving without "listening to the voices and concerns of our people" or dismissing them altogether.
"Will you take time to visit our missions and talk to our church leaders? Will you show any respect or interest for the rich history and culture of Eagle Pass, a city that prides itself on its diversity and harmony? Will you recognize the challenges and opportunities facing our border community, such as trade, security, environment and immigration? Or will he just throw out his usual lies, insults and conspiracy theories, fanning the flames of hate and division?" the Facebook post said.
Update, 2/28/24, 8:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from a spokesperson for the Eagle Pass Border Coalition.
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About the writer
Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek investigative reporter based in Michigan. His focus includes U.S. and international politics and policies, immigration, ... Read more